03-08-2025, 05:57 AM
https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2025...t-program/
The Trump administration is eliminating a preference for fiber Internet in a $42.45 billion broadband deployment program, a change that is expected to reduce spending on the most advanced wired networks while directing more money to Elon Musk's Starlink and other non-fiber Internet service providers. One report suggests Starlink could obtain $10 billion to $20 billion under the new rules...
Plans to direct money to Starlink were criticized yesterday by House Commerce Committee Ranking Member Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-N.J.). "Musk is a grifter, and Republicans are going to just stand by and watch," Pallone said...
"Committee Republicans have done nothing but undermine our efforts to deploy more reliable and affordable broadband," and "the Trump Administration has not moved one state forward in the process" since taking over six weeks ago, he said.
The Biden NTIA decided that fiber architecture is the only technology that achieves the BEAD law's goal of building future-proof networks. "End-to-end fiber networks can be updated by replacing equipment attached to the ends of the fiber-optic facilities, allowing for quick and relatively inexpensive network scaling as compared to other technologies. Moreover, new fiber deployments will facilitate the deployment and growth of 5G and other advanced wireless services, which rely extensively on fiber for essential backhaul," the Biden NTIA said.
House Republicans yesterday held a hearing titled, "Fixing Biden's Broadband Blunder." A hearing memo said that BEAD should support fixed wireless and satellite broadband "in areas that are more remote or have terrain that makes deploying fiber or cable more difficult."
The Biden NTIA's rules did not prohibit the use of fixed wireless and satellite technologies, but defined "priority broadband projects" as those that use end-to-end fiber-optic architecture. The rules said states could choose a non-fiber provider if the cost of running fiber to a particular location is above the state's "extremely high cost per location threshold," or "for other valid reasons subject to approval" by the NTIA...
"Under the BEAD program's original rules, Starlink was expected to get up to $4.1 billion, said people familiar with the matter. With Lutnick's overhaul, Starlink, a unit of Musk's SpaceX, could receive $10 billion to $20 billion, they said," according to the WSJ report.
In other grift...
In a Bloomberg opinion piece on Musk's conflicts of interest, columnist Thomas Black said that a "conflict too blatant to ignore has surfaced" with the FAA, which regulates SpaceX.
"Musk is pushing SpaceX's satellite broadband product, Starlink, as a quick solution to the FAA's antiquated air-traffic-control systems and is muscling in on a $2.4 billion contract already awarded to Verizon Communications Inc. to upgrade FAA's operations," Black wrote. "The move undercuts the whole argument that Musk has no need nor interest in taking advantage of his position as Trump's right-hand man to further his business interests, and even fans of DOGE should urge Musk to back off."
The Trump administration is eliminating a preference for fiber Internet in a $42.45 billion broadband deployment program, a change that is expected to reduce spending on the most advanced wired networks while directing more money to Elon Musk's Starlink and other non-fiber Internet service providers. One report suggests Starlink could obtain $10 billion to $20 billion under the new rules...
Plans to direct money to Starlink were criticized yesterday by House Commerce Committee Ranking Member Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-N.J.). "Musk is a grifter, and Republicans are going to just stand by and watch," Pallone said...
"Committee Republicans have done nothing but undermine our efforts to deploy more reliable and affordable broadband," and "the Trump Administration has not moved one state forward in the process" since taking over six weeks ago, he said.
The Biden NTIA decided that fiber architecture is the only technology that achieves the BEAD law's goal of building future-proof networks. "End-to-end fiber networks can be updated by replacing equipment attached to the ends of the fiber-optic facilities, allowing for quick and relatively inexpensive network scaling as compared to other technologies. Moreover, new fiber deployments will facilitate the deployment and growth of 5G and other advanced wireless services, which rely extensively on fiber for essential backhaul," the Biden NTIA said.
House Republicans yesterday held a hearing titled, "Fixing Biden's Broadband Blunder." A hearing memo said that BEAD should support fixed wireless and satellite broadband "in areas that are more remote or have terrain that makes deploying fiber or cable more difficult."
The Biden NTIA's rules did not prohibit the use of fixed wireless and satellite technologies, but defined "priority broadband projects" as those that use end-to-end fiber-optic architecture. The rules said states could choose a non-fiber provider if the cost of running fiber to a particular location is above the state's "extremely high cost per location threshold," or "for other valid reasons subject to approval" by the NTIA...
"Under the BEAD program's original rules, Starlink was expected to get up to $4.1 billion, said people familiar with the matter. With Lutnick's overhaul, Starlink, a unit of Musk's SpaceX, could receive $10 billion to $20 billion, they said," according to the WSJ report.
In other grift...
In a Bloomberg opinion piece on Musk's conflicts of interest, columnist Thomas Black said that a "conflict too blatant to ignore has surfaced" with the FAA, which regulates SpaceX.
"Musk is pushing SpaceX's satellite broadband product, Starlink, as a quick solution to the FAA's antiquated air-traffic-control systems and is muscling in on a $2.4 billion contract already awarded to Verizon Communications Inc. to upgrade FAA's operations," Black wrote. "The move undercuts the whole argument that Musk has no need nor interest in taking advantage of his position as Trump's right-hand man to further his business interests, and even fans of DOGE should urge Musk to back off."
